The Assyrian St. Gabriel Monastery in Mardin, Turkey, established in 397 A.D.(AINA) -- Assyrian organizations in the United States and Europe have issued statements condemning Turkey's seizure of 50 Assyrian religious properties. In the U.S., five organizations signed a joint statement condemning the seizures, saying "...we appeal to our government, the United Nations, the European Union and all international institutions and Human Rights Organizations to demand that Turkey stop this policy of religious and ethnic intolerance and immediately return the monasteries and churches to their rightful owners."